object because I wore garters under a slit skirt and a plunge bra. - Lingerie, one of the great male fantasies, also brings women a sense of autoerotic satisfaction. Choosing one’s underwear is a means of sharpening one’s powers of seduction. Underwear shows off one’s body. For a woman, her main pleasure when choosing underwear is to feel comfortable, as well as sensual. What is the point of buying a beautiful pair of garters if one doesn’t mean to show them ? - From Bardot to Beyoncé, transparent, lacy feminine underwear retains the same erotic potential. Lingerie at once dresses and undresses a woman’s body. BB made my whole generation dream. Today, we have Madonna, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Rihanna – a recent client. All these stars who appear in next to nothing in their shows have contributed to the craze that young people have for lingerie. Just 20 years ago, girls didn’t dare wear or buy a slightly sexy piece of underwear in shops. I remember, in my first boutique, it was mainly slightly embarrassed mature men who requested black underwear as presents with a very specific objective. Today, younger and younger boys come and choose pretty lingerie for their girlfriends. - For philosopher Alain Finkielkraut, “The Femen who exhibit ridiculous slogans on their militant chests are contributing to the de-erotisisation of the world”. Yes, Femen remind me of the US feminists during the Sixties who didn’t shave their legs. As if shaving was a symbol of male domination of women! These women were in fact already parading around bare-breasted! I really don’t understand this kind of provocation. - Lingerie is at the very heart of your trade, but you never deprive yourself of forays into other realms: perfume, make-up or furniture ranges, or books*. And you have even revamped an E-type Jaguar in pink and black for a charity event ! Moreover, have also just added a new string to your (Cupid’s) bow by creating a decorative world for the Vice Versa Hotel.*
18 | PORTRAIT
I developed different décor options on the theme of the seven mortal sins and had fun down to the last detail. On the door of the room with decoration themed around La Luxure (Lust), the one most requested in the afternoon, customers can choose to hang a sign stating: “Sin in progress, do not disturb”. - For which of your sins would you crave the most indulgence? Greed. - That’s a péché mignon, an endearing weakness. What might your most roguish sin be? Desire… for all sorts of things … for life, the desire to discover things, novelty, invention and originality. And for shopping too – I go mad! There is of course also Lust, because it is a sin linked to seduction. It is best savoured in an elegant, refined and consistently sophisticated manner. One must take one’s time to pick a place, create an atmosphere, set the stage … - We all know the creative designer who dreams up collections liable to ignite the most burning desires; but we know a lot less about the woman who hides behind her legendary fringe and bright red lips. I have a double life. In private, there is a mother who is close to her family. Despite my busy schedule, I always did my best to have breakfast with my kids every morning before taking them to school. These days, I spoil my grandchildren. Yesterday I took them to see the stage version of Ice Age. My approach to life is to look to the future and never to remain idle. If I don’t have a new suggestion every week I get depressed! I can’t imagine stopping work for a second! Keeping active is what life is all about!